I can't emphasize enough the critical importance of Business Manager Tim Foley's comments on the upcoming election. Put simply: it's us or them. Democrats who are pro-worker, pro-union and pro-middle class versus Republicans who are dedicated to fostering the selfish goals of billionaires and big business at the expense of the rest of the country.

November's election battle will be played out on many stages, and one of the most critical is here in Illinois where we will elect, among others, a Governor and a U.S. Senator. The choices in these two important races are clear cut.

Incumbent governor Pat Quinn is on our side. He campaigned for Illinois Jobs Now!-a $31 billion capital plan to create and support nearly half a million jobs over the next six years. Recently he signed into law the nation's toughest anti-wage theft law, one that will give the state Department of Labor needed muscle in dealing with the more than 10,000 wage theft claims it receives every year. Quinn has also extended tax credits to small businesses that create new jobs by the end of the fiscal year and made it easier for Illinois veterans to access small business loans.

Contrast Quinn's record with that of his Republican opponent, Bill Brady, a wealthy downstate businessman, who claims the state's $8.25 minimum wage is "too high." As a state senator for 18 years, Brady has a dismal 15 percent record of voting in favor of working-family issues. In the regular spring session, he missed more than 200 votes. Among the bills he failed to vote on were several important to labor, including bills that would provide tax easement for wind farms, prohibit public employee evaluations from being made public, allow state employees to buy back furlough days, improve railroad safety and strengthen transit workers pension funds.

Across the country, Republicans are huffing and puffing about taking back the U.S. Senate. We can't afford to let that happen. We are about to elect the man who will occupy the senate office once occupied by President Obama. Beyond the symbolic significance, let's look at the real-life politics that we can expect from our next senator.

As senator, the Democratic candidate Alexi Giannoulias will create a progressive caucus of leaders who will hold the line against the onslaught of destructive Republican policies that say no to everything that promises to improve society and benefits the average person. Giannoulias is clearly on our side with his support of filibuster reform and opposition to extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.

Opposing him is the Republican candidate, U.S. Congressman Mark Kirk, a man who lied about his war record, lied about being a teacher and lied about being a moderate. Most recently, Kirk lied about his support for the $26 billion federal jobs bill-one day saying he intended to vote for the bill and then the next day, voting against it. Is this the guy we want representing us in the U.S. Senate?

"When labor loses, the middle class loses... America loses," said Vice President Joe Biden. This November, we have the power to shape the future through our votes. Let's get out there and win one for ourselves and our country.

Happy Labor Day.